*Update: Comments are now closed! And I’ve decided that y’all have some of the best hypothetical books around. You had me laughing out loud! Check back soon for our ten winners!
The weekend before last (I know, take a minute to figure that one out. It is Monday after all.), I drove myself to Katy, Texas. (While that may sound like I actually ventured out on a road trip, it really just means I drove 30 minutes across town.) (Also, I’m really into the parenthesis today.)
(I’m currently humoring myself and no one else. I know. Forgive me.)
The reason for my 30-minute road trip was because a sweet lady named Big Mama, I mean, Melanie Shankle, was doing a book signing at the Books-A-Million for her new book, Sparkly Green Earrings. You may have heard of her? Grin.
(By the way, if you’re curious as to why she refers to herself as Big Mama, you’ll be relieved to know she explains her alias in the first chapter of her book. But I’ll leave that story for her to tell. A little suspense is a good thing.)
Melanie has been blogging since before blogging became the thing to do, and her blog was one of the very first blogs I read. (How many times can I use the word blog in one sentence?) It was really love at first sight, or read. A few reasons I’ve loved Melanie’s blog are because she’s hilarious, real, a good writer, sarcastic and she loves Jesus. Need I say more?
Also, she does a really fun post every Friday called Fashion Friday, and I don’t know about you, but my materialistic side is really into fashion, and there is always something she’s finding online that’s adorable that I then put into my mental wish list.
Anyway, last Saturday I got lucky and both she and her equally hilarious daughter, Caroline, signed my copy of the book.
Truth be told, I love to read, but for the past week the book has sat on my bedside table. That is until I picked it up yesterday and devoured the first five chapters before I realized I would be late to church and miss prayer time unless I left right then.
(Y’all. I didn’t set my alarm yesterday morning, slept in, and went to our evening service. I don’t know, but I feel like a new woman. It was heavenly. But that has nothing to do with Sparkly Green Earrings. But I did feel sparkly. Whatever that means.)
You know those books that you pick up and they’re just easy to read, charming and you want to keep going because you’ve entered into their world without even knowing it? That’s how I feel about Sparkly Green Earrings. I realize I’m only five chapters in, but I can guarantee you it won’t take me longer than a week to finish it. Honestly, I was a little skeptical at first, not because I don’t love Melanie or her writing, but because it’s a book about motherhood, and, well, to state the obvious, I’ve not ventured into the land of motherhood, nor am I close, so I wasn’t sure if it would apply to me. But alas, it is so much more than motherhood, it is her story of motherhood and it is a sweet one. In fact, she talks about her best friend from the start, and I really resonated with that as I thought about my best friend, and our friendship, especially since she just walked through pregnancy and has her first baby girl that is my current obsession.
I say all of that to say this, our friend Melanie, and her whimsical book, made it on the NY Times Best Seller list this week. Listen, I’m no author, nor have I published a book, but I say that’s a pretty big stinkin’ deal and deserves a celebration.
Need proof? Here’s a picture.
So, to celebrate, I thought it would be really fun to give away ten signed copies of Sparkly Green Earrings! Through a series of unplanned, or planned, events, we have those copies in our possession and they make me incredibly happy. Thank you, Amanda and Melanie, for making the signed books a reality. I know y’all had nothing better to do this weekend. Grin.
Here’s a look in the book.
How about this cover? I’ve tried endless times to get my ponytail looking like that.
Signed, sealed and (almost) delivered. Grin.
Someone else we all know and love also loves this book and the author!
And here is a picture of Nancy and me at the book signing with Melanie. The only thing I’m regretting right now is the fact that Caroline isn’t in the picture with us. Watching Caroline sign the books brought me pure delight.
(Notice the leg pop both Melanie and I are doing. That makes us cool.)
To win your own copy of Sparkly Green Earrings, simply leave a comment with your first and last name. (Side note: I know some of you don’t like your last name on the internet for the world to see, so if that’s you, your last initial would be so helpful. I don’t know if you realized there are A LOT of names on this blog, and not shockingly, A LOT of duplicates.)
For fun, if you’re feeling super creative, you can also tell us hypothetically what the name of your book would be called if indeed, you were to publish a book.
And I’m not even going to pretend like I know what my book would be titled. I’ll just start with “Lindsee Lou”.
How’s that for original? Catchy?
Okay, enough about my non-book.
I’ll leave comments open until mid-Wednesday morning!
Ready, set, go win a book!
In Joyful Chaos!
Sounds like a fun book! I don’t mean to copy the idea, but if I were to name my own, it would probably be Cindy Sue. Never really adored my given name, but now I appreciate the simplicity, which was tradition for my mom of 6 kids and her 11 siblings. I share that wonderful passion for simple, down-home names with two of my aunts–Laura Lee (also known as Toots) and Bessie Bell. Not sure what the book would be about, except how life should be simple and good, and full of Jesus! Sound boring? I don’t think so!
Desiree Grosgebauer
I’ve read the book and HIGHLY recommend it! 5 stars all the way.
My book: “Wait… Motherhood is Fun?”
Jeanie Kelley
If ever I wrote a book it would be a book on parenting or marraige. The parenting book would be called Parenting God’s Way and the marriage book would be Marriage God’s Plan.
I use too many !!!! So that would be my name of my book “live life with an exclamation point!”
Melinda brown!!
Please pick me! I love Melanie’s blog. Talitha Culver.
W*I*L*L*P*O*W*E*R
I’ve got the Will, God’s got the Power
Would love to read the book. Her blog is wonderful!
I love your blog!! I think I would call my book “Sweetly Broken” .
A Thankful Heart
Pam L. When Your Ducks Don’t Stay In a Row
I would name my book Chasing Butterflies!
Raquel Mohr
“My life in a fish bowl”
Thanks! God bless you!!
Denissa Churchwell- I’ll use my blog title From My Heart! 🙂
I would name my book . . . Lindy Lou, my mom’s nickname for me! I would love a quick, fun read right about now . . . I am a Special Education Teacher and I could use a little laughter in my life about now!
Cheryl Kennedy
Second Chances
You Just Can’t Make This Up
Heather Marshall
Cheryl McCabe
my book would be… “Three Boys and a Cup of Coffee”
“Forgiven”
The mother of two!
Wendi Brillhart
“And Church Plant Makes 6: our family’s journey in birthing a church!” 🙂
Jessica Coons
My book: come join my wild ride
Rebecca McLemore. I’d title my book, “It’s Nighttime Dude” – she a book of crazy things my boys say.
Robin Watson
Sparkly Pink Earrings 🙂
The threat of the expectations of being a wife sometimes dampens my desire to get married. “Who cleans your fridge?”, I asked the waitress at the counter , as I ordered takeout burgers for my kids waiting for dinner at home. It seems I don’t much care about cooking or cleaning.
Hmmm….if I wrote a book…I would title it: “I want a
Husband, but need a Wife” 🙂
Rebecca McLemore. I’d title my book, “It’s Nighttime Dude” – a book of crazy things my boys say.
hmm… maybe “Divine Confusion”
My book would be called “The Joy of Family”
My book would be called “I’m Surrounded by Idiots (In a Room Full of Mirrors)!
Melissa Williams
Thank you!!
Dolly King
Karen Lawton
My book title,”Wish I was at the Ocean” because I do! 🙂
Beth Turner…Change is inevitable, be prepared.
Kristi Kingery
Hmmm, may have to call mine polka-dotted walrus…why? no idea, just thought it sounded good.
I think my book would be called “Living Out Loud” ha!!
Syneva Mullins -Love the title!
I’m all about Melanie’s book and love the Big Mama blog. If I wrote a book I think it would be called, “Grace and Justice: The Gospel and Social Justice”.
I am an avid reader and in need of a new good inspirational book! If I were to ever write a book, I would call it “Rescued”.
Carrie Barley
And I have no idea what my book title wld be 🙂
Patricia Ashmore. 🙂
I’m always mentally composing multiple books:) My autobiography would be titled Diary of a Normal American Girl.
Amy K. Jones, Fayetteville, GA
The title of my book would be called, Trust-Wait-Act Upon.
Lynda Harkins
Sue Pavlick
“Being Queen of Kenny’s Kingdom”
(My son Kenny is autistic, mental and physically
Disabled and his world (His Kingdom) is a glorious
One in which I get to play queen